German-Swedish school partnership aiming at enhancing career prospects for students with learning and developmental disabilities Erasmus Project

Project Title

German-Swedish school partnership aiming at enhancing career prospects for students with learning and developmental disabilities

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Early School Leaving / combating failure in education; Disabilities – special needs; Access for disadvantaged

Project Summary

The vocational integration of people with severe learning disabilities is a special path in the education system, as in Germany much emphasis is placed on an apprenticeship or school-leaving certificate. Students have to accept the fact that they have to tackle integration because of the “non-achievement”. Students got to know the system in Sweden and learned that there can also be recognition and certification of practical achievements, which are known for their uniformity and the employer knows, what to expect from the students. The Swedish students got to know the German support system for people with disabilities. Some parts of it are also available in Sweden, but they are not so well known. In Sweden it is difficult to prove a restriction with an identity card.
Based on these experiences, we held discussion meetings in the second year where the students presented their experiences to the administration and expressed their wishes to them. In Germany, it became apparent that the integration system has courses that require performances that can be tested, especially at the practical level. This is one approach to developing such qualifications. However, this takes time and needs supporters. The participants in the discussion promised support, but the content of the work would probably be mainly under the direction of the schools. In Sweden, it was noted that different achievements can only be obtained by some form of proof. Convincing is still needed here. However, more information about the system as a whole has made it possible to achieve a better connection between school and the career path after school. In Germany, this is already the case through cooperation with the Employment Agency and the Integration Service.
In the third year we planned to go to the public with our concern. We have produced a brochure with which we want to advertise the recruitment of people with disabilities in companies, for example. We have also made initial attempts to develop a concept for a “practical training qualification”. However, these approaches were stopped by Covid-19. We therefore have used the possibility of video lessons to highlight the brochure so at least a part of the planned work can be completed under the more difficult conditions. The texts for the brochure were now produced by each class individually.
The brochure was printed. In the long term, talks are to be resumed with the „Handwerkskammer“ (organisation for rules concerning crafting companies and exams) and other partners in order to develop a “practical training certificate” for our pupils. The brochure is intended to be widely used and, through “handover on site” with the inclusion of the press used to remind people, that our students can do valuable work in companies.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 62545 Eur

Project Coordinator

Comenius-Schule Schwetzingen & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Platengymnasiet / gymnasiesärskolan